Hello Tweets,

Today we spent 5 hours birding in eastern Grays Harbor Co. covering areas from the Elma area to Brady Loop Rd. We had a late start today due to very heavy and persistent fog in Tacoma,which remained heavy all the way until we left the Mud Bay area near Olympia,then skies cleared considerably. This was our first day for 2007 in Grays Harbor Co.,which overall was very enjoyable with great weather! We encountered a total of 69 species including 4 main highlights. These highlights begin with 2 1st winter plumaged GLAUCOUS GULLS observed together with 3 adult Herring Gulls,8 Glaucous-winged Gulls and our only Ring-billed Gull of the day. These birds were all observed along the eastern portion of Brady Loop Rd.(south of Gillis Rd.)in a flooded stubble field east of Brady Loop Rd. This location also produced our main shorebird flocks of the day consisting of 2 LEAST SANDPIPERS that were picked out amongst a large flock of 800+ Dunlin and 12 Black-bellied Plovers. 3 RUDDY DUCKS were also observed at this same flooded location,which are noteworthy for this location.

Our second main highlight of the day was a female REDHEAD that ended our day on the eastern most pond at Vance Creek Co. Park. The bird was observed amongst a small flock of Lesser and Greater Scaup and 5 Pied-billed Grebes,but it more or less stayed by itself actively swimming and diving. An additional Greater Scaup was noted with several Lesser Scaup at the western most pond on the south side of Wenzel Slough Rd. just west of Vance Creek Co. Park. Here,we encountered a small gathering of Trumpeter Swans on both sides of Wenzel Slough Rd.,as we searched here and other locations unsuccessfully for Tundra Swan. Other areas that hosted good concentrations of Trumpeter Swans included along the western portion of Wenzel Slough Rd. with a scattering of 160 birds. 3 additional Trumpeter Swans were noted along Brady Loop Rd. along with a lone bird at the Schouweiler Rd. wetland.

Our third highlight of the day was a nice pair of CINNAMON TEAL observed in a small pond along the south side of North Blockhouse Rd.(accessed off of Hwy.12 southeast of Elma). These birds were a somewhat surprise for the day although we recall other winter records of the species in the Elma area in recent years.

Our fourth highlight of the day was an adult ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK observed atop a small deciduous tree along the west side of Foster Rd.(Brady Loop Rd.),which added to our small raptor list for the day.


Additional highlights encountered during the day included the following species:

45 "Dusky"Canada Geese along Foster Rd.(Brady Loop Rd. complex)

1 male "Eurasian"Common/Am.Green-winged Teal intergrade observed amongst a small flock of Green-winged Teal near the end of Dunlap Rd.(accessed off of Hwy.12 southeast of Elma)

1 Western Grebe on the large "lake" on the south side of Wenzel Slough Rd.(just west of Vance Creek Co. Park)

5 Am.Kestrels from various location within the Elma-Brady area.

1 male Ring-necked Pheasant along Foster Rd.

9 Western Scrub Jays from scattered locations in the Elma-Brady area.

1 Hermit Thrush along South Union Rd. near Cloquallum Creek.

3 Yellow-rumped Warblers at the Schouweiler Rd. wetland

1 SAVANNAH SPARROW and 4 Lincoln's Sparrows along Brady Loop Rd.

4 Brown-headed Cowbirds observed amongst a large blackbird/starling flock along Keys Rd.(just north of Wenzel Slough Rd.) A Red-winged Blackbird showing extensive white areas on the head and tail was also noted amongst this same flock. The flock primarily consisted of Red-winged Blackbirds with slightly lesser numbers of Brewer's Blackbirds that shifted around from fields to power lines to rooftops of nearby barns.



Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit513 at msn.com